Fluid dispenser



July 7, 1970 J, BRUCE 3,519,172

FLUID DISPENSER Filed March 1, 1968 /i /7fl I INVENTOR. Lfd/m/ KEP/MfUnited States Patent 3,519,172 FLUID DISPENSER John K. Bruce, Burbank,Calif., assignor to Sterigard Company, Burbank, Calif., a Californialimited partnership Filed Mar. 1, 1968, Ser. No. 709,563 Int. Cl. 365d83/14 U.S. Cl. 222396 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thedispensing valve of this fluid dispenser has a stem with a pressure ventport and a stemport. These ports are separated by a partition andcommunicate respective passages with the outside of the stem. The stemis springbiased to maintain the pressure vent port normally within thedispenser and out of communication with the dispensers exterior. Uponreaching a predetermined excessive pressure, the stem moves against thespring bias to position the pressure vent port outside the dispenserand, through its passage, relieve the excessive pressure buildup withinthe container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to the artof fluid dispensers and, more in particular, to a safety devicetoprevent excessive pressure buildups in fluid dispensers.

Pressurized fluid dispensers are extremely popular. These dispensersmaintain a product to be dispensed under pressure and sealed withinthem. A dispensing valve is employed to selectively discharge theproduct.

When heated, the pressure within these dispensers increases. Thepressure often increases to such an extent that the container willeatastrophically explode. This explosion hazard is present whether thedispenser contains product or whether it is empty. In the latterinstance, there is still gas in the container of suflicient quantity toexpand under heat and cause an explosion. Accidents are common, forexample, where the user of the dispenser inadvertently places it closeto a source of heat between usages. In this instance, the consumer isalways exposed to the possibility of serious injury. Even when thedispenser is thrown away, it is not uncommon that it finds itself in anopen fire or a furnace with the inevitable result of an explosion andpossible injury to people close by.

To avoid explosion hazards, several concepts have been proposed. One ofthese concepts is to have a weakened section in the wall of thedispenser. The weakened section is designed to relieve the pressurewithin the dispenser, when it becomes sufl'iciently high, by opening itsinterior to atmosphere. This concept generally takes two forms. One formis purely pressure sensitive. This dispenser wall is weakened to eitherallow a plug section to blow out or the dispenser to separate in half.The other form employs a low melting point plug which, upon reaching asufficiently high temperature, melts to communicate the interior of thedispenser with atmosphere. Both devices operate to vent the interior ofthe dispenser very rapidly because the pressure at which venting occursis high. Rapid product venting often leads to disaster. For example, ifthe contents of the dispenser are flammable their escape in a firecreates a flamethrower effect. In addition, if the plugs or weakenedsection are not formed correctly the contents of the dispenser mayescape prematurely.

Another concept is to break the dispensing valve after the dispenser isemplty in such a manner as to vent the dispensers interior. This conceptdoes not guard against the explosion hazard while the dispenser stillcontains ice product. In addition, inadvertent destruction of thedispensing valve, while product remains, is itself a hazard because theproduct will escape very rapidly. Moreover, such inadvertent destructionis wasteful of the product.

Still another concept envisions the freezing of an empty pressurizeddispenser and then puncturing the dispenser. To avoid an explosionhazard by having each and every dispenser frozen and punctured by itsuser is an extremely unreliable and arduous way to safety. Moreover, theconcept does not avoid the hazard of explosion while product yet remainsin the dispenser.

Therefore, there is an urgent need for pressurized dispensers which venttheir interior gradually and reliably without user attention when thedispensers are subjected to heat or other agents of accidental pressurebuildup.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improvementin pressurized dispensers which avoids the problem of explosion byventing a containers interior when it reaches a predetermined pressurewithout the attention of the consumer.

The invention employs a dispensing value having a stem with a pressurevent port communicating a passage in the stem with the stems interior.The stem is biased inwardly of the dispenser to maintain the pressurevent port out of communication with atmosphere. The bias is such,however, that upon reaching a predetermined excessive pressure, thepressure vent port moves in response to such pressure outside thedispenser. Product is then discharged through the relieving pressurevent port because the port is in product communication with the interiorof the dispenser through the passage. Means are also provided forselectively dispensing product through the dispensing valve.

In one form, the invention contemplates a fluid dispenser of the typewherein the dispenser is sealed and the fluid to be dispensed isdispensed by a dispensing valve. The dispensing valve has a stem whichis spring-biased in the direction of the dispensers interior. The stemhas a dispensing and a venting passage separated by a partition. Thedispensing passage is normally disposed out of communication with thedispensers interior while the venting passage is normally disposedwithin the dispenser. The pressure vent port passes through the wall ofthe stem into the venting passage. The venting passage is also open tothe interior of the dispenser. Means are provided to communicate theinterior of the dispenser and discharge product through the dispensingpassage at the behest of the user. This may be done by a product portthrough port through the wall of the stem into the dispensing passage.Upon depression of the stem by the user, the product port communicatesthe dispensing passage with the interior of the dispenser.

In preferred form, the improved dispensing valve is carried by a valvecup. A housing having an axial bore is mounted interiorly of thedispenser and held by the cup. The stem is spring-biased inwardly of thecontainer by a first spring acting on a flange at the lower end of thestem. A return spring in the bore urges against the bottom of the flangeand the housing to effect return of the stem to its unactuated position.A seal is provided about the stem to prevent product leakage where thestem leaves the cup. Product within the dispenser is in communicationwith the venting passage of the stem through the housing which is openfor this purpose.

In use, an excessive pressure buildup within the dispenser forces thestern upward against the action of the biasing spring until the pressurevent port is exposed to atmosphere. At this time, the contents of thedispenser will be vented through the venting passage and out thepressure vent port to atmosphere.

The present invention marks a material advance in the safety ofpressurized dispensers. The pressure vent port in the stem will rise inresponse to pressure buildup within the dispenser. This port will ventthe dispensers interior and relieve the pressure, when suflicientpressure exists to overcome the inward bias. The stem in which the portis disposed is spring-biased inwardly. The spring bias insures againstrapid and often catastrophical venting of the dispensers interior.Moreover, inasmuch as the pressure vent port is carried by thedispensing valves stem, venting may be against the interior side wall ofthe valve cup. This effectively distributes the vented product into asmall area and dissipates its force. This is an important feature when,for example, the contents of the dispenser are flammable. In addition,the contents are discharged gradually and not catastrophically becauseas pressure is relieved the biasing spring will return the pressure ventport into the inside of the container to prevent further escape. Whenpressure again increases, the stem will translate to communicate thepressure vent port with atmosphere.

Thus, the pressure dispensing valve of the present invention avoids allthe problems attendant. with the concepts previously proposed. The valveis pressure sensitive and therefore consumer attendance to safety is notrequired. It is not necessary to freeze the dispenser and puncture itafter its contents have been emptied or to fracture the dispensing valveto communicate the interior of the dispenser with atmosphere. Relativeto these latter concepts, the dispensing valve of the present inventionis safe not only when product is within the dispenser but when thedispenser is empty, a feature absent in the prior art. In addition,expensive and unreliable weakened sections are avoided and therefore theproblem of catastrophic discharge of the dispensers contents is alsoavoided.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following description,appended claims and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a view of the improveddispensing valve in its associated pressurized dispenser;

FIG. 2 is a partial view, in half. section, of the preferred form of thedispensing valve of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the path of product prior to itsdischarge;

FIG. 4 shows how the product is discharged through a a product port; and

FIG. 5 shows how product is vented when an excessive pressure is reachedwithin the dispenser.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 depicts the generalcombination. A dispenser or container has a dispensing valve 12 mountedin its cover or cap 14. Except for the dispensing valve, the dispensermay be of standard construction. A closed body portion 16 is connectedto cover 14. The product to be dispensed is contained in dispenser 10under pressure. The product is dispensed through. actuation ofdispensing valve 12. Because the product is maintained at a pressure, itis necessary that dispenser 10 be sealed.

FIG. 2 depicts in detail the improved dispensing valve 12 of the presentinvention. This assembly includes a valve cup 18, a valve stem 20 and anactuator 22.

Stem 20 includes an upper portion 24 and a lower portion 26. Upperportion 24 has a product dispensing passage 28 in communication with adispensing orifice 30 of actuator 22. A product port 32 extends throughthe wall of upper portion 24 to communicate passage 28 with atmosphere.The position of the product port illustrated is typical, but it may benormally out of communication with atmosphere. It is only necessary thatproduct port 32 be out of communication with the dispensers interiorwhen valve 12 is in its unactuated position.

Lower portion 26 includes a venting passage 34 which extends downwardinto the interior of dispenser 10. A pressure vent port 36 is at theupper end of venting passage 34 and extends through. the wall of lowerportion 26 to communicate passage 34 with the exterior of stem 20. Thelower end of passage 34 is open. A partition 38 separates dispensingpassage 28 from venting passage 34. An external annular flange 40 formsthe base of stem 20.

A housing 42 couples stem 29 and its carried actuator 22 to the balanceof dispenser 10. The housing includes a generally cylindrical upperportion 44 and a generally cylindrical lower portion 46 of smallerdiameter. An interior cylindrical bore 48 extends through upper portion44 and terminates at the base of lower portion 46.

Valve cup 18 is formed with a generally toroidal channel 50 which isbounded by exterior vertical wall 52 and interior vertical wall 54. Anannular, outwardly extending, radial crimp 55 is formed in wall 52 andbears on the interior surface of cover 14 to firmly secure valve cup 18in place. The base of the channel is defined by a generally annularhorizontal portion 56 which connects vertical walls 52 and 54. The spaceinwardly of vertical wall 54 is bridged by horizontal portion 58. Valvestem 20 extends through a hole in this horizontal portion.

Vertical wall 54 has an inwardly extending flange 60 which may be formedby crimping. Cylindrical portion 44 of housing 42 is secured in positionby this annular flange. A seal 62 is disposed between top portion 58 andthe top of cylindrical portion 44. Stem 20 extends through this seal.The seal prevents product from leaving the interior of the dispenserthrough the opening in horizontal portion 58 through which stem 20passes. An annular, upwardly extending flange 64 on the upper surface ofcylindrical portion 44 bears against the lower surface of seal 62. Thisflange creates a seal between top portion 58 and the upper surface ofseal 62 immediately above the flange.

Valve cup 18 has an annular lip 66 which is crimped over a mating lip 68of cover 14 to secure the cup to the balance of the dispenser.

A pressure or biasing spring 70 is disposed within bore 48 of housing 42and bears against the upper surface of external flange 40 of stem 20 andthe lower surface of seal 62. A return spring 72 is also disposed inbore 48 but on the other side of external flange 40. This spring bearsagainst the lower surface of flange 40 and the base of housing 42.Pressure spring 70 biases stem 20 to normally maintain pressure ventport 36 interiorly of the dispenser and product port 32 outside thedispenser. Spring 72 returns stem 20 to the position shown in FIG. 2after each use of the dispenser. Spring 70 exerts a downward force onstem 20 through flange 40 even while the pressure in the container isurging stem 20 upward.

Bore 48 of housing 42 is in product communication with the interior ofcontainer 10 through a passage 74. The product exerts pressure on stem20 and tends to drive the stem upward. The effective area of stem 20which feels this upward pressure is equal to the sum of the area ofpartition 38 and the cross sectional area of the walls of lower portion26 of stem 20. In normal usage, spring 7 0 will exert a force on stem 20which is balanced by the pressure within the dispenser felt by thiseffective area and spring 72.

FIGS. 3 through 5 depict the operation of the improved dispensing deviceof the present invention.

In FIG. 3, stem 20 is in its unactuated position. In this position,dispensing passage 28 is open to atmosphere through product port 32 anddispensing orifice 30. Within the dispenser, product occupies theinterior of housing 42 both above and below flange 40. Product is alsoin venting passage 34 of stem 20. Product will flow through pressurevent port 36 into the space above flange 40. This is shown by the arrowsin FIG. 3.

As is seen in FIG. 4, when valve 12 is actuated, stem 20 is depressedinwardly against the force of spring 72. to lower product port 32 insidethe dispenser. When port 32 is within the dispenser, productcommunication into dispensing passage 28 is effected by product flowthrough this port from that portion of bore 48 above flange 40. Productflows into this space through pressure vent port 36. Product then flowsthrough port 32, into passage 28 and out through dispensing orifice 30.

When the pressure within dispenser builds up gradually, it will actagainst stem and against the restoring force of spring 70 to raise thestem upward to a point where pressure vent port 36 is in communicationwith atmosphere. Venting will be gradual because port 36 will not becompletely open to atmosphere. Product will then flow through ventingpassage 34 until the pressure within the dispenser is reducedsufliciently for spring 70 to lower stem 20 and its pressure vent port36 into the dispenser. In an aggravated case, when the pressure buildupis rapid and great, port 36 will be forced completely outside thedispensers interior and remain there until almost all the gaseouscontents of the dispenser are discharged through it. In this aggravatedcase, as seen in FIG. 2, product discharge through pressure vent port 36will be against vertical wall 52 of valve cup 18. This tends to isolatethe discharge into a very limited area and reduce its force. Thisfeature is particularly valuable with inflammables. The restoring forcepresented by spring 70 on stem 20 insures that product discharge throughport 36 is gradual because the port will always tend, except wh n thereis excessive pressure, to return to within the dispenser.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a fluid dispenser having a dispensing valve ofthe type adapted to contain a fluid product under pressure, animprovement in the dispensing valve comprising:

(a) a movable valve stem having a venting passage open to the interiorof the dispenser and a pressure vent port through the wall of the stemin communication with the passage;

(b) biasing means to urge the stem inwardly of the dispenser to maintainthe pressure vent port normally out of communication with atmosphere,the biasing means and valve stem being operable in response to apredetermined, excessive pressure to allow the valve stem to move to aposition where the pressure vent port is exposed to atmosphere andrelieve the dispenser by venting the dispensers interior; and

(c) means for selectively dispensing fluid from the dispenser, theselective dispensing means including a dispensing passage in the sternwhich is normally out of communication with the dispensers interior anda product port opening into the dispensing passage through the wall ofthe stem, the product port communicating the dispensers interior withthe dispensing passage when the selective dispensing means is actuated.

2. The improvement claimed in claim 1 including return biasing means forreturning the stem to an unactuated position after actuation of theselective dispensing means.

3. The improvement claimed in claim 2 including a housing mounted in thedispenser having a central bore, the stem being slidably disposed in thecentral bore.

4. The improvement claimed in claim 3 wherein the stem biasing meansincludes a spring disposed within the bore of the housing and coupled tothe stem to urge it inwardly of the dispenser, and the return biasingmeans includes a spring disposed within the bore of the housing belowthe stem and coupled to the stem to urge it up- Wardly.

5. The improvement claimed in claim 4 including an external flange atthe lower end of the stem, the stem biasing and return springs urgingagainst opposite surfaces of the flange.

6. The improvement claimed in claim 5 wherein the housing is carried bya valve cup such that the pressure vent port, when exposed to atmospherein response to a predetermined excessive pressure within the dispenser,is capable of discharging fluid product against a wall of the valve cup.

7. An improved fluid dispenser comprising:

(a) a closed container having an interior for storing a fluid productunder pressure; and

(b) a dispensing valve mounted in the container -for selectivelydischarging the fluid product including:

(i) a movable valve stem having:

a venting passage in communication with the hollow interior; a pressurevent port through the wall of the stem into the venting passage; andmeans for selectively dispensing fluid from the container, the selectivedispensing means including: and

a dispensing passage in the stem axially aligned with the ventingpassage and separated therefrom by a partition; and a product portthrough the wall of the stem into the dispensing passage, the productport being normally out of communication with the containers interiorand positioned such that upon depression of the stem inwardly of thecontainer the product port communicates the dispensing passage with thecontainers interior; and (ii) biasing means for maintaining the pressurevent port within the container when the pressure within the container isbelow a predetermined excessive pressure, the biasing means and valvestem being operable when such predetermined excessive pressure isreached to allow the valve stem to move outwardly of the container toexpose the pressure vent port to atmosphere and relieve the excessivepressure.

8. The improved fluid dispenser claimed in claim 7 wherein:

(a) the biasing means includes a biasing spring operatively engaged tothe valve stem to urge the valve stem inwardly of the container; and

(b) the selective dispensing means includes a return spring operativelyengaged to the valve stem to urge the valve stem upwardly of thecontainer, the valve stem being carried by the biasing spring and returnspring.

9. The improved fluid dispenser claimed in claim 8 wherein:

the dispensing valve is carried by a valve cup such that the pressurevent port, upon exposure to atmosphere, is capable of discharging fluidproduct against a wall of the valve cup.

10. The improvement claimed in claim 3 wherein:

the stem biasing means and stem are operable to main tain the pressurevent port in communication with the central bore to provide fluidproduct thereto through the venting passage at pressures within thedispenser "below the predetermined excessive pressure, the product portcommunicating with the dispensers interior through the central bore whenthe selective dispensing means is actuated.

11. The improved fluid dispenser claimed in claim 7 wherein:

(a) the dispensing valve has an axial bore in communication with thehollow interior, the stern being received in the axial bore;

(b) the stem biasing means and stem are operable to maintain thepressure vent port in communication with the central bore to providefluid product thereto through the venting passage at presssures withinthe container below the predetermined excessive pressure; and

(c) the product port communicates with the hollow interior through theaxial bore when the selective dispensing means is actuated.

12. An improved dispensing valve for use with a pressurized fluiddispenser comprising:

(a) means for mounting the dispensing valve to the dispenser;

(b) a housing carried by the mounting means having an axial bore with anopening for fluid product communication with the interior of thedispenser;

(c) a stem received in the axial bore of the housing for axial movementtherein between an unactuated position, an actuated position and apressure relief position, the stem extending outwardly of the housingand having:

(i) a venting passage open to the axial bore of the housing,

(ii) a presssure vent port through the wall of the stem into the ventingpassage, the pressure vent port being within the housing in theunactuated and actuated positions and outside the housing incommunication with atmosphere in the pres sure relief position,

(iii) a dispensing passage,

(iv) a product port through the wall of the stem into the dispensingpassage, the product port being out of communication with the axial borein the unactuated position and in communication with the axial bore inthe actuated position, and

(v) a partition dividing the dispensing passage and the venting passageto prevent direct fluid communication between the two;

(d) means for biasing the stem against pressure within the dispensersuch that the presssure vent port is within the housing at pressureswithin the dispenser below a predetermined excessive pressure, thebiasing means and the stem being operable to allow the stem to moveoutwardly of the housing at pressures within the dispenser above thepredetermined excessive pressure to the pressure relief position forcommunicating the pressure vent port with atmosphere; whereby when thedispensing valve is mounted on the dispenser and the predeterminedexcessive pressure is exceeded, the stem moves outwardly of the housingto the pressure relief position where the pressure vent port is incommunication with atmosphere to relieve the excessive pressure byproduct discharge through the venting passage and pressure vent port toatmosphere, and at pressures below the predetermined excessive pressure,the displacement of the stem to the actuated position communicates theproduct port with the axial bore of the housing for the selectivedischarge of product.

13. The improved dispensing valve claimed in claim 12 wherein:

the pressure vent port is in communication with the axial bore of thehousing at pressures below the predetermined excessive pressure toprovide product communication between the axial bore and the interior ofthe dispenser through the venting passage.

14. The improved dispensing valve claimed in claim 13 including:

return biasing means for returning the stem to the unactuated positionfrom the actuated position.

15. The improved dispensing valve claimed in claim 14 wherein:

(a) an external flange on the stem is provided;

(b) the stem biasing means includes a spring disposed within the axialbore of the housing and urging against the external flange to bias thestem toward the unactuated position and away from the pressure reliefposition; and

(o) the return biasing means includes a spring disposed within the axialbore of the housing and urging against the external flange to bias thestem toward the unactuated position and toward the pressure re-- liefposition.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,913,509 6/1933 Rack 222-4932,437,589 3/1948 Bink 222-493 3,005,577 10/1961 Webster 222-3973,081,919 3/1963 Samuel 222-396 3,191,816 6/1965 Fead et a1. 1 222402.24X 3,363,810 1/1968 Meshberg 222397 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner F.R. HANDREN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 222402.24

$92 23 UNI'IEI) STA'IES IA'IIJNI OFFICE CERTlFICATE OF CORREC'IION DatedAugust ll, l970 Patent. No. 3 519 172 J K. Bruce ror appears in theabove-identified patent reby corrected as shown below:

Inventor(s) It is certified that er and that said Letters Patent are heI- In the specification: Column 1, line 70 "emplty" Column 2 line 23,"value" should be should be --empty--. --valve--; line 51, delete"through port".

In the claims Claim 7 column 6, line 17 delete "and".

SIGNEUANU S EALEU OCTZOIQU Attest:

Edward Fletcher, Hi-11A! II- p m. M Gomissioner 0! pm Ancating Officer

